"SINCE NO MAN IS EXCLUDED FROM CALLING UPON GOD, THE GATE OF SALVATION IS OPEN TO ALL. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO HINDER US FROM ENTERING, BUT OUR OWN UNBELIEF." (JOHN CALVIN).

"Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes." (Matthew 11: 20.... 24).

Tuesday 12th July 2022, of the 15th Week of Ordinary Time.

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus taught that those who have received more are expected to give back more.  They are expected to produce more fruits. They should make more saints and send out more missionaries. Chorazin and Bethsaida received more of Jesus teaching and miracles. But both cities were obstinate when it comes to belief and repentance. Their hardness of heart is caused by UNBELIEF.

Why was Jesus stern in His reproach of Chorazin and Bethsaida?
The citizens of both cities locked up their hearts in unbelief. Unbelief is very dangerous. Look around the society today and see for yourself what unbelief can produce. Where there is unbelief, there will be no repentance. Unbelief is like autism which they say is incurable. It may well be the Sin of Unbelief that make some Christian theologians like St Augustine postulate a belief in predestination. Without repentance one cannot be saved. Unbelievers have no time for repentance. For example,
robbers who are caught red-handed on camera have sworn that they are innocent. This is the result of Unbelief. By their fruits you will know them.

Brethren, we are Chorazin. We are Bethsaida. Let us come before Jesus in humility and have our sins washed away in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The merciful love of Jesus is waiting to give us a new mind and a new heart.

"If souls understood what treasures of love are freely given to those who approach Me in the Sacrament of My love, My churches would be filled day and night, and unable to contain the multitudes drawn to them. But the Evil One has schemed and plotted to cover the mystery of My presence with a dark veil of neglect, of irreverence, of forgetfulness, and of unbelief. He has obscured the mystery of My real presence, and so My faithful, beginning with My priests, have walked away from Me, one after the other, even as they did when first I spoke plainly of Myself as the living Bread come down from heaven to give life to the world." (IN SINU JESU page 226).

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

7. 12. July = The Most Precious Blood of Jesus Month.

“I adore You, O Precious Blood of Jesus, flower of creation, fruit of virginity, ineffable instrument of the Holy Spirit, and I rejoice at the thought that You came from the drop of virginal blood on which eternal Love impressed its movement; You were assumed by the Word and deified in His person. I am overcome with emotion when I think of Your passing from the Blessed Virgin’s heart into the heart of the Word, and, being vivified by the breath of the Divinity, becoming adorable because You became the Blood of God.”  (St Albert the Great).

Daily Bible Verse @  SeekFirstcommunity.com

"AS LONG AS ANYONE HAS THE MEANS OF DOING GOOD TO HIS NEIGHBORS AND DOES NOT DO SO, HE SHALL BE RECKONED A STRANGER TO THE LOVE OF THE LORD." (ST IRENAEUS).

“And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied,  “A man fell victim to robbers."
"A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight."
"Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”  (Luke 10: 25 - 37)

Our key Scripture for today is from the Parable of the Good Samaritan. You may call this a story of mercy.
What is mercy? From the Parable, we may say that mercy is when someone shows you a totally unexpected pity in a moment of great need.

Our neighbor is every person in need.

Jesus ends what we call the Parable of the Good Samaritan by saying to the scholar of the law: Go and do as the Good Samaritan. Every person in need is our neighbor.

Be a good neighbor.
Allow someone to be a good neighbor to you. Jesus is always a good neighbor.

Jesus gave us the Divine Mercy Devotion through St Maria Faustina. This devotion is summarized through the ABC of Mercy:

A = Ask for mercy.
B = Be Merciful.
C = Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

JESUS TO ST CATHERINE OF SIENA: "MY DAUGHTER, IF YOU THINK OF MY BUSINESS FIRST, I WILL THINK OF YOURS FIRST."

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10: 34.... 11:1).

Monday 11th July 2022, of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity: St Benedict of Nursia, Abbot. (480 - 547). Italian and founder of the Benedictine Order. His twin sister St Scholastica embraced religious life and became a leader in monastic movement for women.
St Benedict is the co-patron saint of Europe. He is also the patron saint of monks, witchcraft, diseases among others. His rules for monastic life is still widely used. His motto is: "Pray and Work."

Do you find anything difficult in today's Gospel? I find many tough challenges. There are No Half Measures in the words of Jesus!! Jesus did not say:
It is OK if you love your father or mother 50% and love Me Jesus 50%. It is OK when you pick up your cross whenever you feel like and follow Me.
Jesus says what He means. He means what He says. If you follow Me, it has to be fully if you want to reap the full benefits.

Do you now understand why some people say that Christianity does not work for them? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says:
"First and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also." (Matthew 6: 33 AMP).

If you desire all your needs to be met, you know what to do. You  make God's business your top priority.

Thank You Jesus for the promise below.

"My Heart is open to your prayers and I receive them with favour because it is I who inspire you to speak to Me in this way. This is the secret of prayer pleasing to My Heart: it rises out of a grace that I have already planted in the soul, even before you come into My presence, even before you open your mouth, or take up your pen, or begin to formulate words. These are the prayers that I answer most readily; these are the prayers that I answer unfailingly, because they are the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit in the soul, teaching the soul to pray in perfect harmony with the desires and designs of My own Sacred Heart." (IN SINU JESU page 120).

7. 11. July is the Month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

“Sometimes let us kindle in our souls an ardent affection, considering his great affection towards us, which upon the cross he declared and manifested to the whole world. And the benefit which he bestowed upon us in his passion, because he bought us with the inestimable price of his precious blood, of which only, we reap the benefit and commodity.”  (St. Peter of Alcantara).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com